Miss Hospitality Stone County

06/18/2024

IT’S TICKET TUESDAY and WOW!🎟️😃 Tickets are sold out for both nights 🤯 Our supporters showed out and I feel the love! If you didn’t get tickets , please plan to tune in and show your support through the Facebook live stream on Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition’s page at 8 pm on Friday, July 12th, and Saturday, July 13th!🤩 It’s going to be an AMAZING two nights! This year is extra special because it is the 75th annual competition, the Diamond Jubilee!💎💎💎 You don’t want to miss it, I promise! Let me know in the comments if you’ve gotten your tickets OR if you’re going to be supporting from home!🏡💎👑


06/18/2024

TODAY IS MISSISSIPPI MONDAY and I am highlighting a company that is both close to home and an integral part of the state of Mississippi’s economic development! Anduril Industries is a defense technology company that has invested $75 million to expand their rocket motor production facility in Stone County 🚀 Last week, Governor Tate Reeves visited the facility for a ground breaking ceremony which was SUPER EXCITING!!! The expansion of this facility will create 60 new high paying jobs for Mississippians. Anduril is putting Stone County and Mississippi on the map!📍🗺️ Below is a link to a WLOX story on the ground breaking and a CNBC story discussing Anduril’s innovation in the aerospace and defense industry. Stone County and Mississippi are making a difference in the defense of the United States! 🇺🇸❤️

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/14/anduril-industries-cnbc-disruptor-50.html

https://www.wlox.com/video/2024/06/10/anduril-investing-75m-expand-rocket-motor-production-stone-county-2/

06/15/2024

Happy Hometown Highlight Day!🤩 Today, I want to feature one of Stone County’s biggest attractions, FLINT CREEK WATER PARK!🛶🌲☀️ Located in Wiggins, Flint Creek is considered one of the top water parks in the state! There are beautiful newly renovated cabins as well as campsites with waterfront access to the picturesque 650 acre lake 🌅 There’s so much to do such as fishing, hiking, biking, boating, swimming, and an amazing waterpark, WATERTOWN USA!💦🇺🇸 Flint Creek also has a huge DISC GOLF course spread across the area. The Fourth of July is right around the corner and they have a big FIREWORKS show over the water every year that you will not want to miss 🎇🎆 So, grab your friends and family and take a fun and relaxing trip to enjoy the beautiful outdoors in Stone County! Check out Flint Creek’s page for pictures and video tours of their beautiful cabins. Links below to a recent news story featuring Flint Creek 🎥 There is something fun for everyone at Flint Creek! Photo credit to Stone County Enterprise for the disc golf action shot.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wxxv25.com%2Fflint-creek-water-park-offers-a-chance-to-get-out-into-nature%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0vIp2BczPtv8OgsI6FHae0aoB755wrJeclPBYI3tRenH14U9sfOSaa8wY_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw&h=AT3AymXS4XZyg1_-HWaEzXMSCPK8Dz06XEkxOuUMdqYE6DQKF9lsOY1U72b_kBe1X6QBUx180Hhv1riB8QQSSxcU2qIJC9gQBzYrJMIAi6rhI6CLcnnYtjpbiFzxj9lkzfRbtL832cdisas&s=1

06/13/2024

WELCOME WEDNESDAY!😊
Have you visited this hometown attraction in downtown Wiggins on historic Pine Hill? Southern Turnings is a staple Stone County business established in 2017 by Scott and Jane Ann Maddox. They have the best gourmet coffee and treats 🍦🥐🍰☕️ Not only is it a great coffee shop, but they also have a wide variety of Mississippi made pottery, art and unique gifts! And….. you absolutely cannot miss the wood turning where the most beautiful bowls and other wood pieces are created!😱 If you’re interested in learning the art yourself, you can schedule wood turning lessons with Mr. Scott himself! Southern Turnings truly is so unique! Stop in sometime soon and enjoy some yummy coffee created by their hardworking, friendly baristas while you browse the wide selection of gifts and maybe even learn how to wood turn yourself 🪵 I included a link to the Mississippi Roads episode where they visited Southern Turnings several years ago 🚗🎥 How awesome is that!? https://www.facebook.com/share/v/QT9KVq38ZK9DJUuK/?mibextid=w8EBqM (https://www.facebook.com/share/v/QT9KVq38ZK9DJUuK/?mibextid=w8EBqM)

06/12/2024

Meet Stone County’s Little Miss Hospitality, Presley Kay Stephens! Presley Kay is a rising 3rd grader at Stone Elementary and is involved in so many activities in our community! She has done such a great job representing Stone County so far! I couldn’t ask for a better little side kick to share this experience with! I know she’s going to shine bright on stage in July 👑💜✨In the meantime, enjoy this short introductory interview with my very own Little Miss, Presley Kay😍

06/07/2024

👑THROWBACK TO LOCAL CROWNING👑
Throwback to the sweetest day yet! I am still so happy and humbled to hold this title and represent the place that I love so very much! Thank you to the Stone County Economic Development Partnership for doing such a great job making this event special for me and my Little Miss. Thank you to Southern Turnings for hosting at their beautiful coffee shop! It was all in the details! Check out those Mississippi cookies that were sooo cute and just as delicious 😉 Also, thank you again to all the wonderful people of Stone County who came out to support us! I want to say a special thank you to Mrs Ruth Ford, my preschool teacher! Look at this sweet pic from 15 years ago at First Baptist Weekday Education Ministries and then from crowning day 🥰 Mrs Ford is one of the sweetest and most supportive teachers I have ever had and is still showing up to make sure her students know they’re loved all these years later! This really was a day that I’ll always hold dear to my heart💛👑

06/04/2024

💚🤩LOCAL DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT🤩💚
Today I want to highlight my lovely local director Miss Sherrice Wright! Sherrice has been such a big helping hand these past few months. I truly cannot think of anyone more dedicated and hard working than my local director. Sherrice is the Community Development Coordinator for the Stone County Economic Development Partnership! She always makes sure to go above and beyond in everything she does! Everyone show Sherrice some love in the comments, because she truly deserves all of it!💚👑

06/01/2024

Hello, everybody! Katie Grace Padgett, Stone County’s Miss Hospitality here 👋 It is such an honor to hold this title and represent the place I love most 🫶 Throughout June and into July, I have been challenged to participate in the Mississippi Miss Hospitality social media contest. This contest will allow me to compete for a related scholarship and also show off some of my favorites people, places, and things in Stone County! I have been having the best time these past several months representing my home and I thank you for supporting and cheering me on 👑💚☺️

05/24/2024

Official Headshots are in!!! I love it! Mrs. Kelly did sooo good!💚🤩💚

05/22/2024

Yesterday was National Travel and Tourism Day! ✈️🧳 🚗 I had the best time celebrating with at Red Creek Cabins! Red Creek Cabins and RV Park is newly renovated and, let me just say, it is gorgeous!!! The cabins are located perfectly alongside Red Creek, and include a long boardwalk right along the back through the trees with a view of the creek 💚🛶🎣 🌲 If you’re looking for a weekend getaway or even a week long getaway, you will not be disappointed in these amazing cabins! I was so impressed! Check out the link I included to a news story that aired on WXXV yesterday evening featuring Red Creek Cabins and RV Park and discussing tourism in Stone County. You might catch a glimpse of Stone County Miss Hospitality 😉💁🏻‍♀️

https://www.wxxv25.com/small-town-big-crowds-wiggins-and-stone-county-bring-in-record-number-of-tourists/

05/21/2024

Come see me today 11-2! We have some great gift raffles, and some yummy sugar cookies!💚🎁😊

Hey Stone County!! Don’t forget that our giveaway is happening tomorrow at Red Creek Cabin Rentals and RV Park. We will be there from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Day!

Our giveaway basket is full of goodies representing our Stone County community including treats from The Pecan House, artwork by Sandra Cassibry, pottery by Daniel Calcote and more! Stop by Red Creek Cabin Rentals tomorrow to tour the campground and enter your name in our drawing.

05/20/2024

I had the best time at the Miss Hospitality contestant workshop Saturday! We learned so much about the competition, and everything that it entails. I got to meet so many wonderful girls, and I am already counting down the days until I get to see them again in July💚👑

05/17/2024

I paid a visit to one of my favorite spots in Wiggins this week, Frosty Mug! Frosty Mug is a staple Stone County food establishment and is preparing to celebrate 65 years in Stone County in just a few short months 😮❤️ I’ve heard many stories from the older generation about hanging out and eating at Frosty Mug when they were younger and I can assure you the younger generation in Stone County will have stories to tell as well! Under new ownership, Chris and Kallie Gollot are planning some future renovations and are constantly expanding Frosty Mug’s menu with so many delicious new things to try! One of my favorites is the limited edition key lime pie milkshake featuring Heartley Sweets. You are missing out if you haven’t tried it! It’s sooo good! I cannot wait to try the rest of the new menu! Thank you so much, Frosty Mug, for your dedication to the Stone County community and for your support and sponsorship in the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant 🩷👑 If you have pics of Frosty Mug throughout the years, share them in the comments. I’d love to see them!

05/08/2024

A great big thank you to Good Fight Dojo and to all who donated and came out to support The Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence! $300 was raised for this worthy cause 💜 Coaches Jeremy and Parker Bond taught us some valuable self defense skills and we definitely had some fun in the process 🥋💪🏻😁 Congrats to Ivey Overstreet! She won the drawing for the ceramic mug handmade by Hadley Batson 🥳

04/29/2024

Wasn’t it a beautiful day to get together at Day 2 ✌🏻of the Pine Hill Festival, y’all?!?!?! The sun was shining bright as we closed out with the best vendors, arts and crafts, music, food and so much more ☀️🎤🦮🎨🛍️🌮🍧 It really was such a fun time! Thank you to Stone County EDP and volunteers for organizing this event! This annual tradition of more than 40 years just keeps getting better!
I sure do love my hometown ❤️🏠

04/27/2024

We had such a great time at the first day of the Pine Hill Festival! Thank you so much for allowing me to speak at the opening ceremony! There are so many amazing vendors and activities to do. Y’all come tomorrow for another exciting day!👑💚🎤

04/24/2024

I am so excited to announce that my very own Little Free Library is finally up and ready for your reading enjoyment in the Big Level community at Snowboogers! Nearly 250 books were collected last month through the Read Across America Week book drive, so I was able to stock it full of both children’s and adult books! With the remainder of the books, several other Little Free Libraries in Stone County were restocked as well! So, y’all go check them out! Literacy is such an important part of learning and, in conjunction with this book drive, the kindergarten teachers at Perkinston Elementary School welcomed me to their classroom to read to their kinder babies. I loved meeting everyone and talking with the kids about the book and their favorite things to do in Stone County! I hope everyone enjoys these free reading opportunities as much as I enjoyed this service project! Thank you so much Stone County EDP for donating the Little Free Library and Snowboogers for agreeing to be a host site and for actually putting it up for me 📚📖❤️

04/19/2024

TOMORROW IS THE DAY!!!! This amazing opportunity is tomorrow morning! All you lovely ladies, plan to come and bring your family and friends and support the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence. It’s a worthy cause and you’ll be learning some valuable skills too! The preregistration link is below. Take a minute and sign up now. It’s a $10 donation to participate or more if you’re able and feeling generous 😁💜 You can pay online after you preregister or pay at the gym. Up to you! Thank you all for your support. This is going to be an amazing event and I can’t wait to see you there!

https://form.jotform.com/240804948832160

04/16/2024

If you have not had a sweet treat from The Pecan House in McHenry (or their 2nd location in Gulfport), you are truly missing out! They have been perfecting their craft for 40 years in Stone County now; so, rest assured their candies and desserts are to die for! Some family favorites are pralines, chocolate covered pretzels, candied pecans, pies, and chocolate covered strawberries 🍫🥨🍪🍯 If that’s not your cup of tea, they have savory treats and coffees too! While you’re there, you’ll also love browsing their beautiful home decor and gifts. They have so many good options, it’ll be hard to choose. Trust me! Thank you to The Pecan House for your sponsorship and support in the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant 👑

04/12/2024

Hey, y’all 👋 Let’s raise some money for a good cause! This self defense class is coming up soon! April 20th is just over a week away! Please let us know who’s coming by completing the preregistration form in the link below. Pay that $10 donation (or more if you’re able 😉) online or at the door. All proceeds will go directly to the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence which serves the six southernmost counties in Mississippi including Stone County 💜 I hope you’re planning to join us! This is such a great opportunity to get together with your friends and family, have some fun, and learn some valuable skills!

https://form.jotform.com/240804948832160

04/07/2024

What an amazing opening day for HANGOUT ON THE LEVEL!🩷💚 Hangout on the Level will continue every weekend throughout the summer. Be sure to stop by to enjoy a snow booger😉, live entertainment🎤, and their amazing lineup of the hottest food trucks🌮! Thank you so much for inviting me and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sponsorship and support in the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant 👑❤️

04/05/2024

See y’all tomorrow! Join me for a meet and greet at 3:30 p.m!💙👑

We are on the home stretch to opening of Hangout On The Level! We will be making announcements all day long.

First up, our very own & Miss Hospitality Stone County Katie Padgett will be joining us for a meet a greet !

04/04/2024

Preregistration is open for our women’s self defense class 🗣️ April 20th is right around the corner, space is limited and we need to know how many to plan for so go ahead and let us know you’re coming! Check out Good Fight Dojo’s post below for the preregistration link and all the details. After you complete the preregistration form, there is an opportunity to pay online. If you want to wait and pay at Good Fight Dojo on the day of, that’s fine too! That $10 fee and any donated above that will go directly to the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence which serves the six southernmost counties in Mississippi including our very own Stone County 💜 I am so excited for this workshop and can’t wait to see you all there!

Great opportunity so near to Mother’s Day! Spend quality time together learning life skills. Coach Jeremy and Miss Hospitality Stone County Katie are EXCITED to host a two hour women’s self defense workshop on Saturday, April 20th, at 10:00 a.m. at Good Fight Dojo in Wiggins. Fee is $10 per person (regular price $40) ✅Fees and any extra donations collected will go directly to Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence which serves Stone County! ✅One lucky attendee will win our Door Prize gift of a handmade ceramic coffee mug by Hadley Batson ($25 value)

REGISTER at the link below. Payments accepted at end of registration or at the event.
Thanks!!
https://form.jotform.com/240804948832160

04/01/2024

Quality Bakery had a successful Grand Opening in Wiggins on Saturday! Stone County showed up and showed out by helping them to sell out of EVERYTHING in just 2 hours! They’ll be opening again tomorrow at 7 a.m., so don’t miss their tasty treats!🍪🍩🧁

03/20/2024

Listen up! Don’t wait for Mother’s Day to spend quality time with the special women in your life 🗣️Grab your mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, grandmas, closest cousins, and besties because I’ve got a great opportunity that you’re not gonna want to miss! In conjunction with Good Fight Dojo, I am hosting a two hour women’s self defense class on Saturday, April 20th, at 10:00 a.m. at Good Fight Dojo in Wiggins. Fee is $10 per person. What?!?! You say that’s such an unbelievable deal and you can’t believe it doesn’t cost more!?!?! Well, you’re right! $10 is an excellent value because regular price is actually $40!!!!! So, feel free to dig deep and donate extra if you’re able because every cent collected will go directly to the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence which serves the six southernmost counties in Mississippi including Stone County! Go ahead and mark your calendars ✅ I can’t wait to see you there!

03/18/2024

Thank you to Patti Saia and McDaniel’s General Merchandise for your sponsorship and support in the Mississippi Miss Hospitality pageant! I appreciate you and so enjoyed chatting with you and taking a tour of your store. While visiting, Ms. Patti let me know that the Little Free Library at her store which gets a lot of use was low on children’s books so I was happy to stock it for the kids in the community while I was there! Fun Fact: Ms. Patti also told me that she was actually Miss Hospitality for Stone County in the 1980s! 👑

When visiting McHenry, be sure to stop in for your gas, tools, hardware, some nice gifts, and just about anything in between. I know I will!

03/17/2024

What a great evening this was! Richelle Putnam from the Mississippi Humanities Council spoke on the life of fellow Mississippian and Pulitzer Prize winning author Eudora Welty. This was followed by a screening of The Wide Net which was written by Eudora Welty and directed by Anthony Herrera who was born and raised right here in Stone County! The Wide Net was also filmed in Stone County in 1987. It was fun to recognize some local landmarks that I see almost everyday on the screen! Thanks to the Mississippi Humanities Council, Stone County Enterprise, and Stone County Economic Development Partnership for coordinating this event. I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned so much! 📚🎥🍿

03/15/2024

I am so grateful to everyone who came out to the public crowning and meet and greet Monday! Your encouragement and support mean the world to me! The warm well wishes that I received mean so much. I truly love our community! I am honored to represent Stone County and blessed to have you all cheering me on. Thank you, Stone County Economic Development Partnership, for planning this amazing kickoff event and thank you to Sidney Brown for serving as our Miss Hospitality last year. She did a phenomenal job promoting Stone County! I am excited to now have this opportunity and hope that I make you all proud!